How to Make a Bench Cushion: DIY Folding Cushion

SKU: X-HT-300687
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Details

A hinged cushion that folds in the middle is a great option if you store your outdoor cushions during the fall and winter months. It also makes it easier to gain access to a storage compartment beneath the cushion. In today's DIY video, we'll show you how to measure, pattern and sew your own cushion cover that folds in half. Join us for this clever and very useful DIY cushion project.

This patio bench cushion has a fabric hinge in the middle so you can fold it in half for easy storage.

This type of hinged cushion is great for an outdoor bench seat. You can easily fold up and stack the cushions when not in use. By DIYing our folding cushion instead of buying a mass-produced one, we can make some important customizations to the cushion.

Here are some of the skills you will learn throughout our DIY tutorial:

  • How to measure and cut cushion boxing and plates.
  • How to sew and install zippers into a cushion panel.
  • How to add a topstitch.
  • How to install snap fasteners on a cushion.
  • And much more.

First, let's talk about fabric choices. We want our cushion to last for years on our patio, so we're using a premium performance upholstery fabric. Performance fabrics are indoor/outdoor synthetic fabrics with excellent abrasion- and weather-resistant properties. They are durable, mold/mildew resistant, easy to clean, and they are solution dyed, which means they'll last years in the sun without the color fading. Sailrite stocks several brands of performance fabrics. Sunbrella® and Outdura® upholstery fabrics are two popular choices.

There are several options for outdoor seating foam. CushionRite® Dry Fast is a popular choice. Its quick-draining properties mean the cushion will dry out quickly after a downpour. We wanted our cushion to double as a flotation device, so we used CushionRite® Flotation Foam. Check out our entire lineup of quality seating foam and find the right foam for your project needs.

Watch the video below on how to make a bench seat cushion. Below the video, you'll find the complete materials and tools list with all the supplies we used to make our cushion.

Video Chapters:

    Intro – 0:00 min.
  • Measuring & Cutting Foam – 0:55 min.
  • Cutting Top Plate – 5:28 min.
  • Cutting Two Bottom Plates – 12:21 min.
  • Measuring & Cutting Boxing – 16:04 min.
  • Sewing Zippers in Bottom Plates – 20:20 min.
  • Sewing Boxing Ends Together – 28:44 min.
  • Basting & Sewing Boxing to Bottom Plates – 36:06 min.
  • Sewing Assembly to Top Plate – 46:44 min.
  • Sewing Top Stitch on Top Plate and Hinge Boxing – 52:26 min.
  • Installing Snaps (Optional) – 58:47 min.
  • Inserting Foam -1:01:45 min.
  • Securing to Bench With SNAD® Fasteners - 1:03:29 min.
  • Materials & Tools List – 1:04:53 min.

Materials List:

  • CushionRite® Flotation Antimicrobial Foam (Extra Firm) - SKU: 124250
  • Premium Outdoor Fabric from Sailrite - we used Sunbrella® Cabana Classic 54" Upholstery Fabric - SKU: 58030-0000
  • Seamstick 1/4" Basting Tape for Canvas & Upholstery (36 yds.) - SKU: 122065
  • Gütermann Tera 60 Tex 50 White Polyester Thread 1 oz. (656 yds.) - SKU: 125183
  • Lenzip® #5 Black Continuous Coil Zipper Chain - SKU: 124596
  • Lenzip® #5 Black Style A Single Locking Metal Zipper Pull (Coil Chain) - SKU: 124600
  • Shelter-Rite® White Fabric Sample - SKU: 112011S
  • DOT® Snap Fastener Button 11/64" (Nickel-Plated Brass) - SKU: 333777
  • Sailrite® Snap Fastener Normal Action Socket (Nickel-Plated Brass) - SKU: 999050
  • YKK® SNAD® Fastener Adhesive-Backed Flexible Base Stud Clear 25mm - SKU: 104451

Tools List:

  • 3M™ General Trim Spray Adhesive 18.1 oz. - SKU: 73211
  • Sailrite® Blade Foam Saw V2 with Carrying Case (110V) - SKU: 121244
  • Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" - SKU: 102400
  • Scribe-All® Black Marking Pencil for Vinyl - SKU: 121977
  • Sailrite® Tempered Cutting Glass - SKU: 121915
  • Sailrite® Edge Cordless Hotknife 18V Package - SKU: 122177
  • Magnetic Sewing Guide - SKU: 102983
  • Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine (110V) - SKU: 311602
  • Sailrite® Ultrafeed® Industrial Sewing Table - SKU: 120934
  • Gingher® Scissors Right Hand Lightweight 8" - SKU: 101017
  • Wipe Off Fabric Marker Blue - SKU: 123135
  • Sailrite® Scratch Awl - SKU: 123270
  • Multiuse Pins 1-1/2" (250 pack) - SKU: 102985
  • Sailrite® Drill Hole Cutter Set - SKU: 121825
  • Sailrite® Cutting Block & Die Holder - SKU: 121597
  • Sailrite® Snap Fastener Deluxe Installation Tool - SKU: 100949
  • 3M™ Tape Primer 94 Adhesive Promoter Ampule - SKU: 120671
  • Marker, Mattet, Drill, Alcohol Prep Pad